HAWKES BAY FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10430, 30 April 1897, Page 5

HAWKES BAY FLOODS.

The following telegram has been received by Mr. A, J. Allom, the local secretary for the relief fand, from the Mayor of Napier, replying to Mr. Allom'a telegram informing him that the Auckland committee is at work :—" Many thanks for your kindness. Please convey same to the Auckland people. Wish you every success. Help badly wanted.—H. Swan, Mayor, Napier." Mr. Allom writes as follows:—" Owing -to the unfortunate statement, made yesterday at the meeting, that the nature of the disaster has been exaggerated, I have, by desire of the committee, sent an tireent wire to the Mayor, requesting him to furnish the committee with information at once as to the extent of the sufferings by the flood of the people on plains." The reply of the Mayor of Napier to Mr, Allom's telegram has been received through the Press Association as follows:— "There has been no exaggeration whatever in any of the statements that have been made as to the losses and suffering of the unfortunate settlers, A similar report had been made in Wellington, and I have V*reft tyou the newspaper containing the most absolute refutation of the shameful assertions that had been made. You can on my authority give the slander a most emphatic contradiction, for, so far, the statemen and report of losses from the surronnding districts, go to show that we have under rather than over eetimated the amount of damage done, and the loss of every description of property to say nothing of the terrible loss of life leaving 40 'women and children destitute."

(B7 TELEGRAPH.—OWK CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. One serious effect of the Hawke's Bay floods is that the sheep cannob be mustered, and the shippers here complain that in consequence they ate unable to supply the number of frozen carcases agreed upon. Napier, Thursday. The Harbour Board's dredgo J.D.O. and a eteam trawler have been searching the bay on the line where the two bodies were found, but without result.

As showing the damage to the county even fire milee from town, the roads 'at Meanee are bo bad that the coach eervice, which id was attempted to re-establish, has had to be abandoned. There is only one road from Napier open to vehicular traffic, that being a roundaboub route to Hastings. Ib is impassable when the rivers are high, ss a large bridge has had two spans swept away. flChristchuroh has send £200 to the funds, which now reaches orer £3000.

TO-NIGHT'S CONCERT. Ab the City Hall to-night the grand concert which has been arranged by Messrs. P. R. Dix and McConnachio, in aid of the 'sufferers by the floods at Hawke's Bay, will take place. A perusal of the programme appearing elsewhere will show thab a musical treat has been provided. It will be noted, too, with pleasure, thab nearly all the incidental expenses have been provided gratis, and thab all the artistes appearing have volunteered their services -'without charge. That there will be a large audience seems almost certain.